Noun

(en noun)

The measure of something's size, especially in terms of width or breadth; largeness, magnitude.

* Fuller

The cathedral of Lincoln is a magnificent structure, proportionable to the amplitude of the diocese.

* Milton

amplitude of mind

* Macaulay

amplitude of comprehension

(mathematics) The maximum absolute value of the vertical component of a curve or function, especially one that is periodic.

(physics) The maximum absolute value of some quantity that varies.

(astronomy) The arc of the horizon between the true east or west point and the center of the sun, or a star, at its rising or setting. At the rising, the amplitude is eastern or ortive: at the setting, it is western, occiduous, or occasive. It is also northern or southern, when north or south of the equator.

(astronomy) The arc of the horizon between the true east or west point and the foot of the vertical circle passing through any star or object.

(firearms) The horizontal line which measures the distance to which a projectile is thrown; the range.

Noun

(en noun)

(obsolete, outside, heraldry) A step on a set of stairs; the rung of a ladder.

An individual step, or stage, in any process or scale of values.

A stage of rank or privilege; social standing.

* 1526 , (William Tyndale), trans. Bible , Luke XX:

Master, we knowe that thou sayest, and teachest ryght, nether considerest thou eny mannes degre , but techest the waye of god truely.

(genealogy) A ‘step’ in genealogical descent.

* 2002 , , The Great Nation , Penguin 2003, page 140:

Louis created the École militaire in Paris in 1751, in which 500 scholarships were designated for noblemen able to prove four degrees of noble status.

* 1851 , (Herman Melville), (Moby-Dick) :

If they but knew it, almost all men in their degree , some time or other, cherish very nearly the same feelings towards the ocean with me.

The amount that an entity possesses a certain property; relative intensity, extent.

*

, title=(The Celebrity), chapter=1 , passage=In the old days, to my commonplace and unobserving mind, he gave no evidences of genius whatsoever. He never read me any of his manuscripts, […], and therefore my lack of detection of his promise may in some degree be pardoned.}}

A stage of proficiency or qualification in a course of study, now especially an award bestowed by a university or, in some countries, a college, as a certification of academic achievement. (In the United States, can include secondary schools.)

(geometry) A unit of measurement of angle equal to 1/360 of a circle's circumference.

(physics) A unit of measurement of temperature on any of several scales, such as Celsius or Fahrenheit.

(mathematics) The sum of the exponents of a term; the order of a polynomial.

(graph theory) The number of edges that a vertex takes part in; a valency.

(surveying) The curvature of a circular arc, expressed as the angle subtended by a fixed length of arc or chord.